Category Archives: News

WDW Ticket Price increases as of February 23rd, 2014

News, Walt Disney World

OK, we have what appears to be the complete price increases, and we’ve already updated the Magic Your Way Ticket Calculator. Prices below are for adult tickets – Children 3-9 pay slightly less for Magic Your Way tickets but the same for Annual Passes.

As expected, the single park, single day (a.k.a. 1-Day Base) Magic Your Way tickets have gone up $5. This applies to both the Magic Kingdom-specific price ($99) and the price for the other parks ($94). The “Magic Kingdom Surcharge” does not apply to a 1-Day Park Hopper, which went up a total of six dollars ($134).

For the multi-day tickets, the 2-day went up $4, 3-day went up $12, and the reset $15.

The Park Hopper and Water Park Fun and More options each went up a $1 to $60 each, and the combo went up $2 but keep in mind the combo price is only $86.

The No Expiration prices also increased but by varying amounts. Check the calculator for those prices.

Both Standard and Premium Annual Passes also increased. Florida Resident and Disney Vacation Club prices went up $21 each, while the Tourist (everyone else) went up $25.

One day single-park ticket prices going up tomorrow (Feb. 23) by $4

News, Walt Disney World

Reports spread like wildfire, and I’ve confirmed through a few channels, that the price of single day, single park tickets will go up $4 starting tomorrow, February 23rd. This will bring the Magic Kingdom single-day ticket up to $99, and the single-day ticket for other parks up to $94.

At this time we are not hearing about any other ticket prices going up at this time, but all will be revealed tomorrow.

Update: It look like there was an across-the-board increase on Magic Your Way tickets and Annual Passes. We are still looking at the increases, but for example the cost of a MYW ticket 4 days or longer went up $15, and the Park Hopper and Water Parks Fun and More prices went up $1 each.

Star Wars Weekends extended an extra weekend, fireworks added, but no Hoopla?

News, Walt Disney World,

Walt Disney World has announced that Star Wars Weekends will be extended for an extra weekend this year, with the first weekend on May 16-18, and the final one on June 13-15. Also, via a cryptic message reportedly from the emperor himself, a nightly fireworks show will be added. It also mentions a new evening experience on Hollywood Boulevard at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Hollywood Boulevard is the main street that leads from the entrance to the central stage where the Hyperspace Hoopla has taken place the past couple years.

But what does that mean for the Hoopla itself? Word is spreading fast that the Hoopla is gone this year, being replaced by the fireworks, as cast members have internally been told that Hoopla has been retired – but we’re still wondering what is meant by the “new evening experience”. In the mean time fans are livid – The Hyperspace Hoopla was HUGELY popular as the nightcap for each day, generating such a large crowd over the years that it had to move from the small Jedi Training Academy stage to the much more accommodating (and now semi-permanent) central stage at the crossroads of the park. Having seen the crowd last year, I find it crazy that Disney would consider ending this show – unless the plan is for something even bigger.

Also announced will be the return of James Arnold Taylor has the host of the weekends – he was the voice of Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars: The Clone Wars and has hosted for several years. He does an amazing one man-many voices show that is not to be missed. And the theme this year is “Join The Rebellion” – perhaps a tie in to the upcoming Star Wars Rebels show?

Oh, and if you heard that there were some unfinished episodes of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, it was true – and they are finished now, and will be released on Netflix next month.

Animal Kingdom parade to close in June

News, Walt Disney World,

Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade at Disney’s Animal Kingdom park will be ending sometime in June, according to a Disney spokesperson. The parade route takes it past the area that is now being developed into the Avatar-themed land, and would be impeded by the construction. The parade will have been almost 13 years old when it closes.

A replacement was not mentioned or immediately planned, but other entertainment including a nighttime light show had been previously announced. Affected parade workers will be reassigned.

Disney finally breaks ground on Avatar-themed land

News, Walt Disney World,

avatar-ground-breakingWhile details of what is exactly going to be in it, Walt Disney World finally broke ground at its Animal Kingdom park to add the new land based on James Cameron’s Avatar – more than two years after it was announced.

And not only was Mickey Mouse present, but a Na’vi as well – as well as (pictured, l to r) George Kalogridis, president of Walt Disney World Resort; Meg Crofton, president of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Operations, United States and France; Tom Staggs, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts; Jon Landau, producer of Avatar; Bruce Vaughn, chief creative executive for Walt Disney Imagineering; and Joe Rhode, creative executive for Walt Disney Imagineering.

Check out the video as well for what they said about Avatar.

Changes to FastPass+: tiered choices at Epcot and DHS, no regular FP for Pop Century guests, limited FP+ for Swan/Dolphin

News, Walt Disney World, , , ,

Recently there have been some sudden and surprising changes with the FastPass+ system being rolled out. And at least in one case, it has guests shifting to other resorts or canceling their reservations all together…

First, about a week ago Epcot’s FastPass+ selections began to be “tiered”. This is similar to how attractions were handled with the Birthday/Give A Disney Day Fastpass cards, and with very early FastPass+ testing. What has happened is that the attractions were placed into two groups, or tiers, and you could only make ONE FastPass+ selection from the top tier, which included Epcot Character Spot, IllumiNations (when available), Maelstrom, Soarin and Test Track. Then you can pick two from all the remaining attractions. And you could not change your selections afterwards to attempt to get a second top tier attraction. Note that Soarin’ and Test Track – arguably the top two attractions at Epcot and often the only two you really need a Fastpass for, are in the top tier, which means you have to make the choice – which one are you going to use your FastPass+ for? For now, you could still get a regular Fastpass for the other, but that is changing as well (see further below.)

Now word breaks today that the same is happening at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, with Toy Story Mania, Rock’n’RollerCoaster, Fantasmic! and Beauty and the Beast in the top tier. While this pits TSM and RNRC against each other, it leaves Tower of Terror and Star Tours in the other tier, so you at least have some reasonable choices.

Why are they doing this? Well, without any specific data, it is believed that these top two attractions at each park are getting almost all of the FP+ selections – and this is making availability somewhat scarce as the day draws near. By tiering and forcing the choice, more availability among the top attractions will allow more guests to take part instead of only those planning far ahead.
Continue reading Changes to FastPass+: tiered choices at Epcot and DHS, no regular FP for Pop Century guests, limited FP+ for Swan/Dolphin →

Disney opens up MagicBands, Fastpass+ to all Disney resort guests over coming weeks

News, Walt Disney World,

It appears that Disney has opened up the ability to customize MagicBands and start selecting Fastpass+ options to all Disney resort guests for guests checking in on or before October 31st, although they are being released over the coming weeks. Check the schedule below to see if you qualify. Note: Nothing has been scheduled for November at this point.

You must have a reservation at one of the following resorts, checking in as specified. To make Fastpass+ selections, you must also have a valid ticket registered in your My Disney Experience profile. And there are lots of reports of difficulties getting some tickets registered, as they are still working out all the bugs. At a minimum, they should be able to get you set when you check in, and then you can make selections then, but they are trying to iron out all the options and tickets.

No word yet on Annual Passholders and the general public getting access.

ALL DATES SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Currently actively available for all guests of the following resorts:

Art Of Animation
Animal Kingdom Lodge – Jambo House (including Villas)
Beach Club and Beach Club Villas
Contemporary Resort
Pop Century
Port Orleans Riverside
Polynesian Resort
Yacht Club

For check-ins AFTER September 30th:

All Star Movies
Animal Kingdom Kidani Village
Bay Lake Tower
Grand Floridian (not including Villas)
Port Orleans French Quarter

For check-ins AFTER October 7th:

All Star Sports
Boardwalk Inn and Boardwalk Villas
Caribbean Beach

For check-ins AFTER October 14th:

All Star Music
Coronado Springs
Old Key West
Wilderness Lodge and Wilderness Lodge Villas

For check-ins AFTER October 21st:

Fort Wilderness
Saratoga Springs

For check-ins AFTER October 23rd:

Grand Floridian Villas

Updates on MagicBand/Fastpass+ testing

News, Walt Disney World, ,

I’ve been asked why I haven’t given an update on the recent MagicBand and Fastpass+ testing that’s been going on. Honestly, there has been a lot to keep track of – and not much to report that’s concrete.

Recently, guests staying at the Animal Kingdom Lodge and Contemporary Resort checkin in on certain days were able to receive MagicBands and take part in the first full guest MagicBand field test. They were allowed to schedule up to three Fastpass+ experiences per day during the test via My Disney Experience (DMX) web site/app. This included all the existing Fastpass attractions, plus a number of other attractions and some more unique items like reserved fireworks and parade areas.

In general, the testing has worked well and been well received, but one thing to note…guests participating in the tests have also been given a “normal” KTTW card as a backup device and to use at table service locations for room charges as they are not yet fully equipped to handle MagicBands. But these cards also work in the current Fastpass kiosks, so the guests were able to use regular Fastpass in addition to Fastpass+, without any interference from each other. It is uncertain that this will be the case when it is fully rolled out, as I’m still hearing information that “regular Fastpass” will go away, and information is still uncertain about whether you will be able to use Fastpass+ similar to Fastpass on the same day.

One thing that did come out of testing – although you can only pick a given attraction once per day, after you’ve used the Fastpass+ for an attraction, if you have any remaining you can change a previous selection to the same attraction.

Another test is currently going on with some guests staying at Bay Lake Tower (the first one including DVC members), and then for most of August it appears that most guests staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge, Contemporary Resort, Pop Century and Yacht Club will be optionally participating. However there is a lot of conflicting information as to whether they will be able to use regular Fastpass on the same day as Fastpass+. Some guests calling for info and support have been told adamantly no, others certainly yes, and still others are told they can use it as long as they don’t book any Fastpass+ that day.

So it is safe to say we can’t really say much for certain yet. 🙂